6: You’ve Got A Friend In Him

My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as one pleads for a friend. Job 16:20-21

 

According to St. Thomas Aquinas, “There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.” Our lives are filled with people; family, neighbors, co-workers, fellow parishioners and all those we bump into throughout our busy days but how many of those people are true friends? True friends are the ones who share in our joys, sorrows, struggles, successes and encourage us through it all with the love and compassion of the Father.

The kind of true friendship St. Thomas was talking about comes from a powerful common denominator; faith and trust in Jesus Christ.  If friendships are rooted in sports, shopping, hunting, fishing or arts and crafts they aren’t the ones that can weather the storms of life and help us lead strong virtuous lives. In John’s Gospel 15:15 Jesus said, “Now I call you friends,” he was talking about true friendship steeped in his love and service with the purpose of drawing closer to him and living in the Father’s will. Christian friendship is necessary to continue growing in relationship with Jesus so it’s a good idea to look at the events and opportunities in our parishes that will help create and foster these true friendships. Here are just a few suggestions:

  • Discipleship or Faith Sharing Groups for men and women
  • Bible Study or Book discussion groups based on solid Catholic books
  • Socials or mixers for guests to meet others
  • Groups to gather and support those in similar life situations; moms, singles, teens, seniors etc. along their faith journey

Speaking on St. Gertrude in an October 2010 audience, Pope Benedict XVI said that she “shows us that the heart of a happy life, of a true life, is friendship with the Lord Jesus. And this friendship is learned in love for sacred Scripture, in love for the liturgy, in profound faith, in love for Mary, so as to be ever more truly acquainted with God himself and hence with true happiness, which is the goal of our life.”  We need others to lead us to those blessed friendships. Jesus said it, St. Thomas said it and St. Gertrude said it…true friendship is necessary for heaven so let it be our mission to create a parish that invites, facilitates and encourages those friendships.

Thank you for reading and may God bless you richly as you continue on this journey to Entertain Angels

In Christ,

Adam Janke & Sheri Wolhfert